Lavington coach Linda Charlton and captain Maddi Lloyd speaking at the 2023 Ovens and Murray grand final press conference
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00:00 I know Lavington's obviously played in a number of grand finals but yet again it's just a massive value. You haven't been there for a couple of years or do you think it's a massive value?
00:09 Yeah it's been a while. I think 2016 and 2017 Lavington were in and 2013 was the last one that we won. So they're incredibly rare even to play in. So we're just trying to really embrace that and enjoy the moment.
00:23 Enjoy all the build up. Yeah there's just like a momentous sense of occasion so yeah it's really exciting.
00:29 So the most fanatical thing for you about the girls just enjoying it right at the time when you've been at the helm?
00:36 It sort of has evolved into that. We maybe didn't start with that but I think about part way through the year we started just really focusing on enjoying ourselves and the game.
00:47 I think we definitely play a lot better when we're relaxed and just focusing on that enjoyment, the connection you get in your team, that kind of stuff.
00:57 Since we made that a bit of a priority we definitely have played a bit better, took a bit of pressure off ourselves I guess.
01:05 Maddie how's it been for you obviously since Monday night? I know you've been through a lot but obviously heading into a grand final. Have you pushed that out of your mind now and focused on the weekend?
01:14 Yeah to be honest I was sort of more focused on the weekend anyway. I think Monday night was a complete shock to me and to win alongside Sophie is just amazing as well.
01:25 But yeah fully focused on the grand final now and just enjoying the ride. As Linda said we play our best and have the longest and enjoying ourselves so hopefully we can continue that into Sunday. There's still a few days in between.
01:38 Linda I think it's two if not three B grade premiership players from last year have become a part of the A grade squad this year and playing quite well. What do you put their rising form down to and you must be proud that players have progressed from the lower grades up into the ranks.
01:52 Yeah that's something we're extremely proud of and kind of something we sort of see as the labby way that we try to really develop our young players and get them ready in B grade to bring them up. So Taylor Firbra, Kate Mastronati and Christine Iguchi have all come up from B grade and they've just stepped up pretty flawlessly.
02:11 They've had amazing seasons and been fantastic. That's a credit to the coaching of the B grade that we have as well. The girls are just ready to go when they step up into A grade.
02:23 And Christine's selection has been a topic of the final. She's definitely back in the country for Sunday.
02:28 Yeah I heard your podcast.
02:29 Just double checking.
02:32 Yeah you had it pretty accurate so yeah she'll be back and yeah looking forward to the game.
02:37 Linda to have the teams who finished third and fourth on the ladder into the grand final. What does that say about the strength of O&M Netball and how open it's been this year?
02:47 Yeah it's probably a surprise that it is third versus fourth. I don't think anyone probably would have predicted at the start of the year that neither Wang or Yarra would be in the grand final.
02:58 But I know we've spoken about before that the competition is very competitive. Last year it was probably the top four teams were extremely close. This year the top five teams have been extremely close. So it speaks of really healthy competition I think.
03:15 Maddy you've won the league medal twice since Lavey were last in the grand final. But I remember speaking at the start of the year and you said I'm not really interested in individual accolades.
03:24 It's 100% about the teams so to get this opportunity on the weekend what will that mean for you?
03:29 It actually means the world. Everyone says that they're hard to come by, even harder to win. The last one I was in was in 2017 and the team's changed a fair bit since then.
03:40 But yeah it's just an absolute honour to be there and to have that opportunity and really relish it is what we're all concentrating on and personally as well.
03:48 We've got a good vibe at the club at the moment and the girls are all excited which is so much fun to be around.
03:53 Linda you've given heaps to the club, time and dedication you've invested over a number of years. What does this mean for you personally this week?
04:01 It means so much. They don't just hand out a ticket to the grand final. You've got to go out there and win it. You've got to put in the hard yards. You've got to have the dedication, commitment, bit of luck as well with injuries and timing your run and that kind of stuff.
04:17 So it does mean the world to us to get the chance to run out there, especially being at Labby. There's a really big build up around the club this week of everybody getting everything set up. So yeah it means the world to get a chance to play in it.
04:35 In the two games you've had against Raiders this year I think they were won by a combined six goals so we're probably expecting another tight game. Where's it going to be won and lost?
04:43 Yeah absolutely we're expecting a goal for goal and that'll be really tight. Really good encounter. I think it'll just be won by whoever can do the basics really well under the pressure of the day and the occasion. So it'll just be down to treasuring the ball and looking after it and trying to limit those errors.
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